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It has been a long time since skate blades touched the ice at Merlis Belsher Place.
After the University of Saskatchewan Huskies won the 2020 Canada West men’s hockey championship on Feb. 29, it was impossible to predict what the next 16 months would bring.
Instead of sticks, pucks and hits, attention turned to creating a worst-case scenario field hospital. The facility began its transformation into a working, ready-to-use field hospital in November.
Wade Epp is the vice-president of services at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).
“When the (Saskatchewan Health Authority) made the request for the field hospital, Merlis Belsher Place seemed like an appropriate location, or facility, due to how it was built and certainly within proximity to places like the Royal University Hospital, the children’s hospital, and some of the other infrastructure we had on campus,” Epp said Wednesday.
“We were happy to do it, knowing that there was some potential risk in the sense of having to potentially delay activity in that space. We knew it was an important aspect to support the community in the event that an additional field hospital was needed.”
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team won the program’s 11th Canada West championship with a 3-1 win over the UBC Thunderbirds on Feb. 29, 2020 at Merlis Belsher Place. (Keenan Sorokan/650 CKOM)
That community aspect was crucial, even back in the developmental stages of Merlis Belsher Place.
And not just to those creating it — also to Merlis Belsher, himself.
“That facility was about community. That was part of his idea, that it was a place to bring the community together,” Epp said.
“It was a proud moment for all at the university to see the photos, to drive by on Preston and see the people lined up to get their vaccine, and to know we were helping in some regard to help things move forward … We take pride in that.”
Currently, everything is still set up for the field hospital, and it’s ready to be operable if needed.
The commitment made by Epp and the U of S goes until the end of July. Decommissioning work will begin, in its early stages, possibly prior to August.
Recommissioning, if everything stays on track, will start in the early part of August, according to Epp.
“There’s a lot of excitement,” he said. “We’re thankful (it) never had to be used … (We’re) excited for the community to be back, whether that’s minor hockey or the (Saskatoon) Stars and Contacts.”
Convocation at the U of S is also held at Merlis Belsher Place, just another aspect that Epp missed at the facility.
But if all goes according to plan, the skates and sticks will hit the ice again at some point in September.
